The Final Six by Alexandra Monir

Author:Alexandra Monir
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2017-12-28T05:00:00+00:00

Twelve

NAOMI

WHAT I JUST SAW CAN’T BE REAL. IT’S NOT . . . HUMAN. I FEEL the blood roaring in my ears as I watch Leo shake hands with Dr. Takumi, and I wonder who he really is—what he is. But then he catches my eye across the pool, flashing me that dimpled grin, and the familiar warmth in my chest replaces my fear. Still, as soon as we’re back in uniform and leaving the diving pool, I pull Leo aside.

“What was that? I’ve seen you swim before—I knew you were good, but holding your breath like that? It was almost like you were . . . amphibious.”

“It was crazy, right?” Leo’s cheeks flush as he smiles, and I realize he thinks I’m simply complimenting him.

“Crazy is a good word for it,” I say dryly. “I’m not trying to downplay how great a swimmer you actually are, but . . . was there something different going on today?”

Before he can respond, Lark motions for the five of us to follow her to our next training session on the Mission Floor. Leo and I hang back a few paces as we follow our teammates down the long corridor to the elevator bay, keeping our voices low.

“Well?” I press him. “What exactly happened in the water?”

“I don’t know. But I felt something different as soon as I got in the pool,” Leo admits. “It was like a—a physical, instinctual charge. I don’t know what it was. Maybe heightened adrenaline or something?”

I shake my head.

“No. Adrenaline doesn’t completely alter your physicality. It doesn’t give you otherworldly speed or the ability to go without breathing.” I look into his eyes. “You know what this is, don’t you?”

Leo folds his arms against his chest. He doesn’t want to hear it, doesn’t want me bursting his bubble. But I have no choice.

“It’s the RRB. That has to be what caused this. You and Suki both had a reaction, only in your case, it wasn’t adverse. At least not yet.” I think quickly. “I’ve got to find a way to get a sample of the serum, so I can find out what’s in it. I just know there’s something they’re not telling us, something off—”

“No,” he interrupts me. “I don’t want to see you get in trouble, and that’s exactly what will happen if you go poking around and try to swipe the RRB. And besides, I need this. I need to be one of the Final Six. If the serum is helping me excel and get to Europa, then I don’t care what’s in it.”

My mouth falls open. I can’t be hearing him correctly.

“You can honestly say that? After last night, after Suki, you can really be so—so callous?”

He winces.

“I’m not being callous—you know how terrible I feel about what happened to her. But if Suki were here right now, she would say the same thing. She would tell me not to jeopardize my chances when things are going well.”

“Yeah, and it was that attitude that put her in the hospital,” I retort.

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